Processing of East African Highland Green Bananas: Waste Generation and Characterization as a Potential Feedstock for Biogas Production in Uganda

Uganda is the second largest global producer of bananas and the industry generates different waste residues both at production and processing levels. This study aimed at assessing the state of banana processing, waste generation and its characterization for evaluation as feedstock for biogas production. The study was undertaken through a reconnaissance visit to western Uganda, one of the most banana producing regions. The information was collected following standard qualitative methods and laboratory analysis. Results revealed that processing of banana fruits mainly involved manual peeling of fruits to generate fresh pulp and large quantities of banana waste. The waste contained more than 80 % moisture content and volatile solids. It also had higher carbon content than total nitrogen that translated into a high C:N ratio of 41:1. The lignocellulose content comprised cellulose 21.16 %, hemicelluloses 10.46 % and lignin 11.31 %. The Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) test showed a methane yield of 0.436 m3 CH4/KgVS which was higher than 0.340 m3 CH4/KgVS for grass. The highest methane production of 79.9 ml CH4/gVS/day was recorded at a retention time of 24 days. These results showed that banana waste was a favorable feedstock for biogas production through anaerobic digestion. Appropriate pre-treatment of lignocellulose would be required to enhance feedstock digestibility to improve biogas yield. The study concluded that utilization of banana waste via anaerobic digestion to produce biogas was the most economically viable option to alleviate the industry’s energy scarcity

Enhancement of Anaerobic Digestion of Banana Waste by Reactor Design and Substrate Pre-treatment for Improved Biogas Production

To publish it as monographic dissertation Supported by RELOA

Anthocyanin Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Edible Leaves of Dissotis brazzae Cogn (Melastomataceae)

Anthocyanins are colored bioactive phytochemicals in the class of flavonoids with high potential as dietary antioxidants. Demand for anthocyanins in functional food and nutraceutical industries has continued to increase over the past decades. However, sources of anthocyanins for commercial exploitation are currently limited. Tropical Africa and Uganda in particular, harbors many plant species with potential to serve as new sources of anthocyanins. In this study, the anthocyanin profile and antioxidant activity of edible leaves of Dissotis brazzae, a plant of tropical African origin, were investigated. Two known anthocyanins, (1) cyanidin 3-O-β-glucopyranoside (1.28±0.44 mg/g fr. wt.) and (2) cyanidin 3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (1.89±0.42 mg/g fr. wt.), were isolated from D. brazzae purple leaves by a combination of chromatographic techniques. Their structures were elucidated mainly by homo- and heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy and online HPLC/UV-Vis spectroscopy. The isolated anthocyanins showed appreciable level of antioxidant activity against DPPH, with 1 (IC50=9.2±0.2 μg/ml) showing slightly higher antioxidant potency than 2 (IC50=14.0±0.6 μg/ml). However, quercetin (IC50=4.5±0.4 μg/ml) used as a reference showed a higher antioxidant activity than 1 and 2. The total anthocyanin content of D. brazzae leaves (317 mg/100g) was within the range (80 – 680 mg/100g) of anthocyanins content in most dietary sources. This is the first report of fully characterised anthocyanins from the genus Dissotis, which may be of taxonomic importance. A new dietary source of the rare cyanidin 3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside has been identified

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons with epilepsy in Uganda : a descriptive cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the disease course, lives, and psychosocial wellbeing of persons with epilepsy (PWE) in Uganda. METHODS: From April 2021 till May 2021, we carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study at four hospitals located in four regions of Uganda. PWE presenting at the study sites were offered a structured questionnaire in the local language. We used the PHQ-9 questionnaire to screen for depression and the GAD-7 to screen for anxiety. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with anxiety and depression. RESULTS: A total of 370 responses were collected. The median age of the respondents was 20.5 years (IQR 15–29), and 51.9% were males. During the lockdown period, the seizure frequency increased in 87 (23.5%) PWE. Various forms of physical and psychological violence were inflicted upon 106 (28.6%) PWE. Fifty-eight (15.7%) screened positive for anxiety and 65 (17.6%) positive for depression. Both increased seizure frequency and experienced violence were associated with experiencing depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown impacted seizure frequency and the psychosocial wellbeing of PWE in Uganda. Increased seizure frequency was associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression. This underlines the importance of continued follow-up of PWE and a low threshold to screen for depression, anxiety, and domestic violence

Case report : Nakalanga syndrome revisited: long-term follow-up of a patient living in western Uganda, 1994 - 2018

Nakalanga syndrome is a childhood developmental disorder that has been reported from various parts of sub-Saharan Africa with the major sign of retarded growth, regularly combined with physical deformities, impaired mental and pubertal development, and epilepsy. We present a follow-up over a 24-year period of a patient living in the Itwara onchocerciasis focus of western Uganda. We demonstrate the strong similarity of Nakalanga syndrome to the more recently described Nodding syndrome, and we discuss the possible causation of both disorders by onchocerciasis. We suggest that the growing knowledge about the tight interconnections between Nakalanga and nodding syndrome, other forms of epilepsy, and onchocerciasis should be taken into consideration in a revised classification system

Onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy: From recent epidemiological and clinical findings to policy implications

International audienc